OFFICE OF MAYOR JERRY SANDERS

CITY OF SAN DIEGO

DATE

TO

FROM

SUBJECT

MEMORANDUM

August 6, 2009

Council President Ben Hueso & Honorable Members of theSan Diego City Council

Mayor Jerry Sanders

Appointments and Reappointment to the Human RelationsCommission

I am forwarding the nominations of Tiffany Harrison, Mitz Lee, and Pastor Roberto Shimfor appointment to the Human Relations Commission, and reappointment of Joyce Abramsto the Human Relations Commission for your consideration.

Tiffany Harrison currently serves as an Operations Manager for the Urban League of SanDiego County, an organization dedicated to assisting African-Americans and otherunderserved people in San Diego County in achieving social and economic equality throughadvocacy, bridge building, program services and research. As Operations Manager, Ms.Harrison manages projects, informs the public about the Urban League's programs,services, and research activities, and coordinates meetings and special events on behalf ofthe organization. Ms. Harrison is also the Co-President of the Urban League's CareerCollege Club Network. Previously, Ms. Harrison provided administrative and databaseassistance for the Multi-Cultural Convention Services Network, whose mission is toincrease San Diego's share of multicultural convention & tourism revenue, and ensureinclusion of underrepresented populations in every aspect of the hospitality industry. Ms.Harrison is also committed to serving the community. Previously, she provided more than900 hours of community service for AmeriCorps tutoring youth in English, Science, andMathematics through the "6 to 6" Program at Keiller Leadership Academy.

Ms. Harrison is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, and a Minorin Political Science at San Diego State University with an expected graduation of Fall 2010.Her ability to interact with diverse cultures and groups, and advocacy efforts on behalf ofunderrepresented groups and populations at the Urban League will be a valuable addition tothe Human Relations Commission. Ms. Harrison was nominated by Councilmember TonyYoung, and resides in Skyline Hills. She will replace Lorraine Johnson, who has resigned,for a term expiring July 22, 2011.

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Mitz Lee has a long history and distinguished record of service to the San Diegocommunity. Her history of service includes outreach, advocacy, and coalition buildingwithin the areas of education, business and economic development, multi-culturalawareness, and fostering relations. Ms. Lee advocated for excellence for K-12 education asa Trustee and Vice President of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education,one of the nation's largest school districts comprised of more than 132,000 students, 221schools, more than 15,800 employees, and an annual budget of $2.2 billion. Ms. Lee wasthe first Asian/Pacific Islander to be elected in a city-wide campaign to the Board ofEducation. Ms. Lee's commitment to helping students achieve began in 1996, when she co-founded the Alliance for Quality Education, a non-profit education reform organizationdedicated to strengthening the capacity of communities to act as catalysts to transform andrevitalize public education so that every child receives a quality education.

Ms. Lee is also a strong advocate for the business community and economic developmentfor underserved populations and multi-cultural communities. She is Co-founder and Advisorto the Board of Directors of the Mabuhay Alliance, an organization dedicated toencouraging economic development and entrepreneurship through business and financialtechnical assistance between government, corporations, and minority groups throughoutCalifornia.

Ms. Lee's passion for fostering relations and cultural awareness led her to co-found andbecome President of Filipino American Community Empowerment, a non-profitorganization that aims to empower the Filipino American community by creating positivechange through the political process. She also serves on the Board of Directors for SanDiego-based Pacific Rim Park, Incorporated whose mission is to foster understanding andgoodwill among citizens and cultures of Pacific Rim countries by bringing people togetherby building a series of parks encircling the Pacific Ocean. Ms. Lee has also actively servedthe community through participation with various business, civic and community groupsand organizations including the Asian Business Association, Asian Heritage Coalition, CityHeights Community Development Corporation, Clairemont Town Council, Kiwanis Club,Mira Mesa Town Council, San Diego County Taxpayers Association, and Scripps LionsClub.

Ms. Lee received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with anemphasis in Economics from the University of the City of Manila in the Philippines, and aMaster's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Financial Managementfrom National University in San Diego.

Ms. Lee's life of service, efforts to build consensus, and experience in advocating on behalfof underrepresented groups and populations will be valuable additions to the HumanRelations Commission. Ms. Lee was nominated by Councilmember Carl DeMaio, and willreplace Nghiep Le, who has resigned, for a term expiring July 22, 2010. Ms. Lee resides inMira Mesa.

Pastor Roberto Shim is an Assistant Pastor at Harbor Presbyterian Church in San Diego, andhas committed his life to helping others through leadership and spiritual development. AsAssistant Pastor since 2007, Pastor Shim has assisted on ministerial duties for the Senior

Appointments and Reappointment to the Human Relations CommissionAugust 6, 2009Page 3

Pastor, organized and led church medical missions to Tijuana, and created rewardingstrategic alliances with community agencies including the Linda Vista Collaborative. From2004-2007, Pastor Shim was an English Ministry Pastor for Korean United PresbyterianChurch in San Diego, where he ministered to young adults and college students, initiatedleadership development with core leaders, and led mission trips to Mexico and Nicaragua.From 2002-2004, Pastor Shim was a Youth Pastor for Somanhg Presbyterian Church inPalisades Park, New Jersey, and a Logistics Operations Coordinator for Hanjin Shipping,Ltd. in Paramus, New Jersey. Beyond Pastor Shim's professional responsibilities, he is alsoactive in serving the Linda Vista community, and was instrumental in starting a localAmerican Youth Soccer Organization region in Linda Vista. He also organized a soccertournament for at-risk youth in 2008.

Pastor Shim received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from New YorkUniversity in New York, New York, and a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies fromAlliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, New York. Currently, Pastor Shim is pursuing aDoctor of Ministry degree with a concentration in Leadership and Ministry Managementfrom Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

Pastor Shim is also fluent in Korean and Spanish. His commitment to diversity andtolerance, and dedication to mentoring and serving others will be valuable additions to theHuman Relations Commission. Pastor Shim was nominated by Councilmember DonnaFrye. He will replace Les Williamson, whose term has expired, for a term expiring July 22,2013. Pastor Shim resides in University City.

I ask that you confirm these appointments and join me in thanking these individuals for theirwillingness to serve the City of San Diego in this capacity.

JE SANDERSMayor

JS:lg

cc: City Attorney Jan GoldsmithCity Clerk Elizabeth Maland